ARECA NUT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY BASED ON LAND SUITABILITY EVALUATION IN NORTH MOLLO SUBDISTRICT, SOUTH CENTRAL TIMOR REGENCY

Abstract

Areca nut is one of the main commodities in North Mollo subdistrict, TTS Regency, it has high
economic value and environmental services, so that the areca nut plants are sustainable. It is necessary to
empower community and land use planning based on the criteria of plant growth (biogeophysics), the aspect of
spatial (spatial planning), land availability and socioeconomic. This study aimed to determine the evaluation of
areca nut suitability based on the physical condition of the land. The methodology used in this study includes
biophysical variables with land suitability analysis based on the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) land
evaluation procedure, and areca nut development strategies developed through SWOT analysis. Based on the
map of the suitability of areca land, S1 class area covers 43.15%, S2 class area 31.93%), S3 class area 16.87%)
and class N area 8.05%. The areca development strategy based on the SWOT analysis is an opportunity strength
(SO) strategy, in which this strategy utilizes the forces and opportunities to develop areca nuts by developing
existing vegetation through areca planting, and increasing the government's role in areca development thus
increasing successful areca nut growth.
Keywords: areca nut, land suitability, environment, sustainability, north mollo.